WO1987002815A1 - Dispositif prothetique pour la parole artificielle - Google Patents

Dispositif prothetique pour la parole artificielle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1987002815A1
WO1987002815A1 PCT/US1985/002112 US8502112W WO8702815A1 WO 1987002815 A1 WO1987002815 A1 WO 1987002815A1 US 8502112 W US8502112 W US 8502112W WO 8702815 A1 WO8702815 A1 WO 8702815A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tone
switch
emitter
speech
tone emitter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1985/002112
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Joseph A. Resnick
Original Assignee
Resnick Joseph A
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Resnick Joseph A filed Critical Resnick Joseph A
Publication of WO1987002815A1 publication Critical patent/WO1987002815A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
    • A61F2/20—Epiglottis; Larynxes; Tracheae combined with larynxes or for use therewith
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/50—Prostheses not implantable in the body
    • A61F2/68—Operating or control means
    • A61F2/70—Operating or control means electrical

Definitions

  • This invention relates to sound producing prostheses which may be adapted for use by a number of patient groups, including laryngectomized patients.
  • the human larynx functions to produce tones which are acted upon by naturally-occurring speech apparatus, the teeth, tongue, lips, etc., to produce sounds identified as human speech.
  • Laryngectomized persons, or patients suffering from various other laryngeal or motor dysfunctions, are unable to produce the tones necessary to be shaped into words forming discernable human speech.
  • a miniature sound emitter is installed in the human oral cavity, providing for concealment and non-interference with articulation.
  • the tone emitter may be incorporated into into one, or a plurality of prosthetic teeth; or into a prosthetic dental plate, or may be simply inserted into the oral cavity and affixed to a natural or prosthetic tooth.
  • the output tone frequencies and amplitude may be user specific, i.e., the energy spectrum generation capabilities of the circuitry may be designed to consider age and sex of the user, either being designed specifically for the individual user, or by frequency or amplitude tuning, or both.
  • the instant invention accomplishes elimination of the robotic or monotonous sound commonly associated with the use of electrolarynges by incorporation and use of a magnetic reed switch which is operated by articulation of the temporo- mandibular joint (TMJ-Activated Switch).
  • interoral electrolarynx major components of the tone emitter, named interoral electrolarynx, are incorporated into the interior of artificial teeth which are inserted into location where patients may lack a natural oral component, a tooth.
  • the entire device may be incorporated in artificial teeth if the patient has sufficient space available for such placement.
  • laryngectomized patients are generally edentulous to the point of three or more teeth, such that removal of healthy teeth will be rare.
  • One embodiment comprises an artificial tooth containing a re ⁇ chargeable, replaceable battery; an artificial tooth containing a fixed miniature loudspeaker; and an artificial tooth containing microelectronic circuitry (fixed circuits).
  • This embodiment may be accomplished with the use of novel precision prosthedontic appliances, such as the system manufactured by HADAX, SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, invented by H. Hader.
  • This improvement A is particularly advantageous in that, by building the components of the electrolarynx into teeth, interference with articulation is substantially reduced or eliminated.
  • This feature of the instant invention is in contrast to prior art wherein the physical presence of hand-held or invasive (e.g. tubular) devices prevent the natural speech apparatus (teeth, tongue, lips, etc.) from assuming the natural or appropriate positions necessary in the production of certain speech sounds, e.g., phrases, plosives, fricatives, zero-frequency sounds, etc., resulting in decreased quality speech.
  • the tone is activated (switched) by utilizing a microelectronic reed switch, such as the type used by CORATOMIC, INC., of Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., in the manufacture of cardiac pacemakers.
  • a microelectronic reed switch such as the type used by CORATOMIC, INC., of Indiana, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
  • This invention relies on the articulator capability of the temporo-mandibular (TM) joint to switch the reed switch.
  • Use of the TM-activated reed switch is an improvement over the prior art: Lacey depends upon sensing noise in the vicinity of the user to activate his prosthetic device. Cooper relies upon a "bite block" to activate his device, which can easily become dislodged, if the user is careless.
  • the electrolarynx contains a storage means for delivering preplanned speech. This is accomplished by incorporation of encrypted circuits containing algorithms designed to duplicate energy and power spectrum-generation (microprocessor devices). While this improvement is of advantage of any patient, it is of particular advantage for those who have lost partially, or fully, the facility for using their natural oral apparatus. These patient classes include: stroke victims, trauma victims, Palsy victims, hemi-plegics, quadriplegics, and aphonic respirator-dependent persons.
  • Figure 1 is an electrical circuit diagram
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a human oral cavity having an electrolarynx therein
  • Figure 3 is similar to Figure 1 with all components of the electrolarynx located within three artificial teeth
  • Figure 4 is a profile view of artificial teeth containing an electrolarynx
  • Figure 5 is a profile view of a switching facility
  • Figure 6 is a partial plan view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative electrolarynx.
  • the invention is an oral cavity placed, minature sound emitter comprising an electrical circuit containing a power source, a speaker, or speakers, and other electrical components needed to produce an audible tone.
  • the circuit may be concealed by incorporation into an artificial tooth or teeth, or concealed by incorporation into a denture plate or combination of a denture plate with artificial teeth, or the circuit may be concealed by mere location within the oral cavity either fixed to a tooth or teeth or to a denture plate or even unfixed.
  • an artificial tooth is defined as a structure having the approxiate size and shape of a natural tooth and adapted in material strength and composition for substitution in an oral cavity for a natural tooth.
  • the emitter generates a tone which can be shaped by natural apparatus, e.g. tongue, lips, palate and teeth, to form the sounds identified as human speech.
  • Location of the emitter in the oral cavity is of significant advantage: generation of the sound directly in the oral cavity rather than externally results in a reduction in sound which escapes formation into speech and exists in the vicinity of the user as superfluous, background noise.
  • background noise not only detracts from the quality of artificial speech, but may also be a source of embarassment.
  • Location in the oral cavity reduces input power needed to produce normal speech intensity levels.
  • the tone emitter can contain a storage means for delivering preplanned speech.
  • the emitter could contain taped or otherwise stored complete speech units to enable a preplanned, pretaped message.
  • radio-telemetry can be used to deliver preplanned messages to an emitter in the mouth from a tape player outside the body.
  • miniaturized computer circuitry is used for this preplanned speech capability.
  • Fricatives, plosives, white noise, pink noise, etc. can be stored in ROM or PROM chips and/or speech synthesizer technology used to get such sounds emitted as desired, for example by tongue-operated switches.
  • An LM 3909 chip, available from Tandy Corp. (Radio Shack), is suitable for creating white and pink noise.
  • Tongue switches can be used to send serial or parallel, digital codes to evoke the different messages contained in storage.
  • the tone emitter can have a variety of switching means for control (as example: magnetic reed switches, rocker dip switch, bio-feedback switch). Switches may be provided to turn the power on and off, for selecting different sound intensities, and even for the selection of discrete tone frequencies. Additionally, or alternatively, resistors and/or capacitors or other electrical components may be variable to control sound intensity and frequency over a range.
  • the electrical circuit may be tunable to a frequency approximately appropriate to the age and sex of the user, or such matching may be done by selection of an appropriately designed model.
  • FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of one possible embodiment.
  • the box labeled 555 is a number 555 integrated chip (a timer) which is a standard device.
  • Table I supplies preferred embodients for electrical components.
  • Closing switch SI causes a an ocillating electrical signal to be output across capacitor C2.
  • Closing switch S2 passes the signal to speaker SK for emission of the basic tone.
  • a miniaturized computer is shown for supplementing the basic tone with preplanned speech.
  • the emitter is constructed into a lower denture plate 11 which supports artificial teeth 12, of which three are so numbered: At least one artificial tooth, number 13, has constructed within it most of the electrical components needed for the emitter. Tooth 14 may be removable and contain a replaceable power source (battery). Speaker 15 emits the needed tone, and is shown located within plate 11, generally at the rear of the oral cavity. A plurality of speakers could be used, perhaps located in teeth 14 and 20.
  • Necessary switches (corresponding to switches SI and S2 in Fig. 1) can be located in rear facing postions such as shown at 16 and 17, for activation by the tongue, or may be located in a forward facing position as at 18 for activation by a finger or hand held tool. Other electrical components such as resistors and capacitors, whose values may be varied, may be located to allow adjustment by replacement.
  • Interconnecting wires in the circuit may be embedded in plate 11, as done in the system of HADAX mentioned above.
  • FIG. 2 The placement mode of Figure 2 shows the use of a denture plate.
  • the emitter components are shown in Figure 2 to be distributed in several artificial teeth which are supported by plate 11. This design would be appropriate to a user with many missing natural teeth.
  • the size and thickness of plate 11 is reduced by incorporation of components within artificial teeth 12.
  • the optimum design is variable with the user but can be stated to be the incorporation of all components within a number of artificial teeth equal to .or less than the number of missing teeth in the oral cavity of the user, with no denture plate used.
  • the entire emitter would be within artificial teeth and the articulation of sound would be done with an essentially intact, unobstructed oral cavity, i.e., the device will not interfere with articulation.
  • FIG 3 an emitter is illustrated which is appropriate to a user having 3 missing adjacent molars.
  • No plate is used.
  • Teeth 21 and 25 are natural teeth to which artificial teeth 22, 23 and 24 are attached.
  • the means of attachement is well known to the art of dentistry and is also described (dental wires) in the above-mentioned Katz et al. European application.
  • Another method of placement is a process called investment casting, wherein a geltrate mold of the tooth is taken and a precision appliance is constructed to the exact configuration of the tooth. This procedure is common in dental practice and, while more expensive than wires, is better protective against periodontitis, or corrosion of the dentin.
  • Artificial tooth 22 will contain a speaker, with the face of the speaker facing into the oral cavity and away from the cheek.
  • Artificial tooth 23 is a removable tooth which contains a battery power supply for the circuit of the electrolarynx. The remaining components of the circuit, including at least one switch, is in artificial tooth 24.
  • Figure 4 shows a profile of the emitter in which natural teeth 21, 25 support artificial teeth 22, 23, and 24 via wires 26.
  • Item 27 is a switch (corresponding to switch S2 in Fig. 1) which controls the sound tone.
  • Artificial tooth 22 contains speaker 15 and artificial tooth 23, a removable tooth, contains a battery. Electrical connections between the artificial teeth may be via wires 26, or precision prosthodontal appliances which support the appliance.
  • a object of this invention is to provide a minimum of interference with articulation. Consequently, the embedding of components within artifical teeth should be such as to present a smooth tooth face on both sides of the tooth. On the buccal, cheek side of the tooth, a smooth surface prevents sores. On the lingual, cavity side, a smooth surface optimizes articulation.
  • Speaker 15 must penetrate to the outer surface of artificial tooth 22 to increase sound transmission, but may be flush with the flat surface. In Figure 3, no protrusion of speaker 15 beyond tooth 22 is shown.
  • the battery may be wholly encased within artificial tooth 23, with only electrical connectors penetrating to the surface of the tooth.
  • the entire artificial tooth 23 may be removed and replaced, to enable recharging.
  • the device of H. Hader (see above) may be used to facilitate this.
  • Switch 27 will protrude somewhat into the oral cavity 30 but presents only minimal obstruction to articulation.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a magnetic or compression contactor 31 to activate switch 32 corresponding to switch S2 of Fig. 1.
  • switch 32 When lower jaw 33 and upper jaw 34 separate to open the mouth, contact or proximity of contactor 31 with switch 32 is lost, thus activating switch 32 to generate the tone.
  • the contactor places the switch into an electrically non-conductive position when the jaws are closed and into an electrically conductive position when the jaws are open.
  • Contactor 31 is held to tooth 39 in upper jaw 34, while switch 32 is held to tooth 40 in lower jaw 33.
  • contactor 31 may be bonded to the lingual side of tooth 39, while switch 32 is bonded to the lingual side of tooth 40.
  • the contactor can be the tooth itself.
  • a magnetic contactor 31 may be encased within an artificial tooth 39, while switch 32 is encased within an artificial tooth 40; in this case, the switch and contactor are absolutely concealed and present no hindrance to articulation of speech or chewing of food. Wiring of the switch into the tone producing- circuit may be by one of the methods explained above.
  • the magnetic switch and/or its contactor may be buried at different depths in the teeth, or switches of different sensitivity may be used, to vary the time of switch-on as the jaws open. Also, a plurality of magnetic switches may be emplaced, in order to switch-on different sound circuits at different amounts of jaw opening. Placement of these magnetic reed switches at varying depths throughout the dental arcade can switch-on variable modulations, or tones, to facilitate even singing.
  • a suitable reed switch is Hermetic Switch HRS 003 DT-C (pull- up range 5-10) from Hermetic Switch, Inc., Chickasha, OK 73018, U.S.A.. This switch may be operated using a sintered Alnico magnet Part No. 28C86A from Permag Magnetics Corp., Toledo, Ohio 43609, U.S.A..
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment suitable for a user with all natural oral components intact.
  • At least one insert 36 is removably attached to natural teeth 12, which insert 35 contains the emitter.
  • Switches 36 are shown positioned for tongue actuation.
  • Attachment means 37 secures insert 35 via gaps 38 between teeth 12.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Cardiology (AREA)
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
  • Transplantation (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Otolaryngology (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)

Abstract

Un émetteur prothétique de tonalité (SK) pour des patients ayant subi une laryngotomie permet, en combinaison avec l'appareil naturel, d'obtenir une parole compréhensible. Les composants de l'émetteur de tonalité sont intégrés dans une dent artificielle (22) pour que le patient puisse articuler sans entrave.
PCT/US1985/002112 1983-09-16 1985-10-25 Dispositif prothetique pour la parole artificielle WO1987002815A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/533,002 US4571739A (en) 1981-11-06 1983-09-16 Interoral Electrolarynx

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1987002815A1 true WO1987002815A1 (fr) 1987-05-07

Family

ID=26772088

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1985/002112 WO1987002815A1 (fr) 1983-09-16 1985-10-25 Dispositif prothetique pour la parole artificielle

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4571739A (fr)
EP (1) EP0245240A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1298936C (fr)
WO (1) WO1987002815A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994001059A1 (fr) * 1992-07-09 1994-01-20 Baraff David R Larynx artificiel

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4672673A (en) * 1982-11-01 1987-06-09 Thomas Jefferson University Artificial larynx
US4612664A (en) * 1985-04-22 1986-09-16 Dacomed Corporation Artificial speech aid tone generating device
US4706292A (en) * 1985-10-07 1987-11-10 Joseph A. Resnick Speech prosthesis
US4821326A (en) * 1987-11-16 1989-04-11 Macrowave Technology Corporation Non-audible speech generation method and apparatus
JP3112254B2 (ja) * 1997-03-04 2000-11-27 富士ゼロックス株式会社 音声検出装置
US5888187A (en) 1997-03-27 1999-03-30 Symphonix Devices, Inc. Implantable microphone
JP3026079B2 (ja) * 1998-03-14 2000-03-27 尚司 岸上 持ち主を特定できる義歯の作製方法及びそれに用いる造溝具
WO2012003602A1 (fr) * 2010-07-09 2012-01-12 西安交通大学 Procédé de reconstitution de la parole d'un larynx électronique et système associé
EP2675395B1 (fr) 2011-02-16 2019-02-13 Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Prothèse vocale

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3524932A (en) * 1968-09-10 1970-08-18 Lockheed Aircraft Corp Physiological communications system
US4163120A (en) * 1978-04-06 1979-07-31 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Voice synthesizer
US4539699A (en) * 1982-11-01 1985-09-03 Thomas Jefferson University Replaceable battery pack for intra-oral larynx

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2093453A (en) * 1935-08-01 1937-09-21 William F Kellotat Artificial larynx
US2161169A (en) * 1938-01-24 1939-06-06 Erwin H Wilson Dentiphone
US2862209A (en) * 1957-06-24 1958-12-02 Cooper Herbert Kurtz Speech aid
US3084221A (en) * 1959-03-26 1963-04-02 Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic Speech aid
US3914550A (en) * 1973-08-13 1975-10-21 Cardwell Associates Inc Artificial speech device
GB1592872A (en) * 1978-05-09 1981-07-08 Lacey C Voice creating apparatus
US4473905A (en) * 1981-03-30 1984-09-25 Thomas Jefferson University Artificial larynx
US4502151A (en) * 1983-11-01 1985-02-26 Xomed, Inc. Replaceable saliva barrier for intra-oral larynx

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3524932A (en) * 1968-09-10 1970-08-18 Lockheed Aircraft Corp Physiological communications system
US4163120A (en) * 1978-04-06 1979-07-31 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Voice synthesizer
US4539699A (en) * 1982-11-01 1985-09-03 Thomas Jefferson University Replaceable battery pack for intra-oral larynx

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994001059A1 (fr) * 1992-07-09 1994-01-20 Baraff David R Larynx artificiel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1298936C (fr) 1992-04-21
US4571739A (en) 1986-02-18
EP0245240A1 (fr) 1987-11-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9143873B2 (en) Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
US9906878B2 (en) Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
US2161169A (en) Dentiphone
US5033999A (en) Method and apparatus for endodontically augmenting hearing
Albrektsson et al. The impact of oral implants-past and future, 1966-2042
CA1298936C (fr) Prothese de parole artificielle
US20120195448A9 (en) Tinnitus masking systems
JP2010502376A (ja) 耳鳴り治療のための方法および装置
PT1761196E (pt) Implante dental à base de óxido de zircónio e processo para a produção de um implante dental
DE3379447D1 (en) Artificial larynx
DE3271739D1 (en) Artificial larynx
CN206442491U (zh) 一种头戴送受话器
US7507206B2 (en) Stress reducer
US20120232332A1 (en) Hearing Aid Apparatus and Method
JP2005150884A (ja) 電気人工喉頭
US9744000B2 (en) Intra-oral appliance and methods of using same
IT1245440B (it) Base per impianto endoosseo per protesi odontoiatriche e simili

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): JP US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB